SPRINT Microwave Contest - May 6, 2023

Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF went to Hannibal, MO in EM49hq to participate on the SPRINT Microwave contest today. They met with a local HAM and SLAMS member Kevin AD7OI at Lovers Leap on the cliff above the Mississippi river in Hannibal. Weather was not so good at the begin, but turned to be better towards the end of the contest.

View in NW direction
(approximately towards Cedar Rapids)

View to North
(approximately towards Chicago)

View to NE
(approximately towards Fort Wayne, IN)

This location repeatedly proved itself to be good for 10GHz, especially with Rain Scatter or Trop propagation enhancement. Listen to the Saint Louis SLAMS beacon on 10GHz:

WB9PNU/B over Rain Scatter aiming 90 deg. away from the beacon

We have brought 902-1296-2304MHz equipment and especially 10GHz. Some pictures with the 10GHz stations:

Kevin AD7OI
(picture by WA0CNS)

Herbert AF4JF with Darcey
(picture by WA0CNS)

Harry WA0CNS

Weather forced us to hide in our cars for a while today. We like thunderstorms during our outdoor activities, but not necessarily right above us. Following picture shows Herbert's rack with lower band transverters inside the car in the middle of moving the equipment to safety:

Herbert AF4JF packing everything 
to plastic boxes or to the back of his car

Despite the weather challenges, we have had a good time and lots of fun trying to work (and working) all the stations available. We certainly will return to this location in the future!

Activity from EM38xw

The EM38xw location is conveniently accessible from the interstate highway I-70, exit 144 (easy to remember). We usually set up on the intersection of a service road that goes parallel with I-70 on its southern side and the gravel country road. There is little to no traffic on either road, but we always make sure there is enough space left for farm vehicles.

We have been there several times in the past, see for example the postings here, here or here.

I went there twice this year so far. My first trip there was on Saturday June 4, 2022 for a MAD Day (Microwave Activity Day). I took 1296MHz and 10GHz with me and tried to work several stations on both bands. It was a hot day without any clouds, no Rain Scatter on 10GHz possible. I have only made 2 QSOs on 23cm - with Zack W9SZ who was 350km away (I used 2W of RF power) and with Pete N0OY who was 498km away (but I needed 40W of power to my 16el. COMET antenna).

AF4JF set up in EM38xw

My second trip to that location took place on Saturday July 2nd, 2022 for another MAD Day. I only took 10GHz with me. It was a rainy day and I was hoping for some Rain Scatter (RS) QSOs on that band. The weather map looked very promising in the morning - I expected the storms to pass just South of my location. Unfortunately, the storm cells decided otherwise and included me in their path.

I have tried to work Greg WQ0P in EM19, but there was too much water in the air between us. We tried several times, but no luck. However, several attempts that we made with Gedas W8BYA finally lead to success. We have made a nice RS QSO on 10GHz across 620km (387miles)!

AF4JF aiming for WQ0P (dish pointing West)

View towards West

Aiming East (South of W8BYA) at a storm cell

Rain Scatter map that day

Zoom in on the pictures from July 2nd, you will see lots of water drops on the equipment. I was hiding under the open back gate of my SUV but the station was exposed to the water, so I have packed everything up after spending 2 hours at that location and went to nearby gas station for hot coffee. My dog refused to leave the car the entire time.

This is one good location for future activities, the SLAMS team will return here in the future.

ARRL VHF Contest - September 2019

Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS decided to participate in the ARRL VHF Contest as Rovers. We have selected 144-220-432-1296-10368 MHz HAM radio bands for this contest.

Herbert posted an Article on the BARS blog site.

We have picked locations in Winfield area just North of St. Peters in Missouri this time, because the line between EM48 and EM49 grids goes right through that area.

Herbert's Rover (AF4JF)

Some pictures of the dam:

Everything considered, this area worked well for VHF contacts, despite its location in the river valley. We shall return here with more microwave equipment next time.

73 Herbert

AF4JF